JP2001229497A - Position information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a system which gathers and distributes position information among devices is closed and other systems, etc., are unable to effectively use the position information. SOLUTION: A terminal 1 obtains position information by a GPS receiver 1B and a program 1A and sends the position information in general format from a communication device 1D to a position information providing server 2. The position information providing server saves received position information by terminals in a database 2C by a program 2A and distributes the position information in general format to other terminals or other systems 3A and 3B. The systems 3A and 3B are enabled to distribute information to the position information providing server and terminals reversely. The terminals and position information providing server can gather and distribute additional information such as state information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a position information providing system for collecting and distributing position information between devices using a computer device, a telephone, a wireless telephone, a LAN, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are many systems that collect location information and use it for business. For example, in a fire-fighting system, a fire center collects positional information from a fire truck so that the fire truck can reliably rush to a fire spot.

[0003] In another example, in a water network management system, a maintenance inspector or a supervisor sends location information together with inspection and monitoring information on the site to the central center, so that the central center can maintain and inspect the monitoring and monitoring information. Can be collected quickly.

In these conventional systems, a terminal on the site side, a position information server and a business application on the center side are provided as a set.

[0005]

A conventional system that can provide location information cannot use any terminal and cannot provide location information to any other system, that is, it has a closed system configuration. For this reason, there are the following problems.

(1) Location information cannot be used for purposes other than the purpose of use. For example, location information from terminals of the firefighting system cannot be collected and used by the water network management system, and location information between systems cannot be exchanged and used, such as exchanging location information between the center of the firefighting system and the center of the security system.

(2) Location information cannot be delivered to terminals. For example, the fire center and each fire truck can communicate with each other by voice, but it is not possible to deliver detailed drawing information of the fire location site to each fire truck.

(3) The location information server cannot integrally manage information based on location information and information required by the terminal user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a position information providing system which can centrally manage position information and can distribute position information and the like to any system and terminal.

[0010]

According to the present invention, location information and additional information of an arbitrary terminal can be collected and distributed at a center, and can be distributed to any other terminal and another system. It is capable of centrally managing position information and the like and distributing the position information and the like to any system and terminal, and is characterized by the following configuration.

[0011] A position information providing system for collecting and distributing position information between a terminal and a position information providing server or with another system, wherein the terminal is a general-purpose terminal that communicates with the position information providing server. Communication means capable of transmitting and receiving formatted position information; GPS receiving means capable of receiving radio waves from three or more geosynchronous satellites; and acquiring the current position information from the three signals received by the GPS receiving means. And a position information obtaining means for transmitting to the position information providing server through, the position information providing server,
First communication means capable of transmitting and receiving general-formatted position information to and from the terminal; information storage means capable of storing position information for each terminal; and general-formatted position information to and from the other system. A second communication unit capable of transmitting and receiving, and the terminal or another terminal or the position information received by the first communication unit or the position information received by the second communication unit through the first or second communication unit. A location information management unit capable of delivering the location information in a universal format to the city information providing server; and a communication unit capable of transmitting and receiving the location information obtained in the system. Means for delivering to the location information providing server through the means and delivering to the terminal through the server.

Further, the terminal includes an additional information input unit for inputting additional information, a unit capable of acquiring the additional information by the position information acquiring unit and transmitting the acquired additional information to the position information providing server. The server includes means for storing the additional information transmitted from the terminal in the information storage means and distributing the additional information to the another terminal or the other system, and the other system adds the additional information to the position information to Means for delivering to an information providing server and delivering to the terminal through the server.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. The terminal 1 is a portable type that can be carried by a terminal user or a mounting type that can be mounted on a moving means such as a moving vehicle, and a position / state information acquisition program 1A as software of a microcomputer and a GPS (GPS) as position information acquisition means. GlobalPositionin
gSystem) a receiving device 1B, a state input button 1C as additional information input means, and a wireless communication device 1D as communication means. In the case where the number of users is large, many terminals 1 are prepared for each user.

The GPS receiver 1B corresponds to a GPS mobile station, and receives radio waves from three or more geostationary satellites. The program 1A captures the received radio wave, measures the arrival time of the radio wave from each satellite, and acquires the current position information.
Further, the program 1A is configured as an algorithm that acquires status information by operating the status input button 1C, sets the information in a general-purpose format, and outputs the information to the wireless communication device 1D as communication information.

The wireless communication device 1D serving as a communication means modulates the general-formatted information from the microcomputer 1A into a radio frequency band and transmits the modulated information to a position information providing server 2 described later. Conversely, the wireless communication device 1D receives the general-purpose formatted distribution wireless information from the position information providing server 2, demodulates it, and inputs the demodulated wireless information to the microcomputer 1A. This received information is output as an image or sound to a liquid crystal screen or a speaker as an output means of the microprocessor 1A.

The line connection between the terminal 1 and the location information providing server 2 and the information transmission / reception procedure are provided as programs in the terminal 1 and the location information providing server 2, respectively.

The location information providing server 2 is provided in a management center or the like and is software installed in a host computer or the like. The location information providing server 2 has a location information management program 2A and a location information distribution program 2B as location information management means and a location information distribution program 2B. A wireless communication device 2E for performing wireless communication between the databases 2C and 2D and the wireless communication device from the terminal 1, a search device 2F as an information providing / distributing means between the other systems 3 and a Web, A server 2G is provided.

The location information management program 2A stores location and status information from the terminal 1 in databases 2C and 2D for each terminal.
Stored and managed in another device 3 and a search device 2F from another system 3.
Required information from the databases 2C and 2D by a search request through the Web server 2G and the other system 3 through the Web server 2G.
A, 3B. The distribution program 2B performs two-way distribution of distributing the position / state information from the terminal 1 to the other systems 3A and 3B and distributing the position / state information from the other systems 3A and 3B to the terminal 1.

The line for inputting and outputting information between the location information providing server 2 and each terminal 1 and the other systems 3A and 3B is not limited to the wireless and LAN, but is secured by a public telephone line or a dedicated line. can do. In this case, the transmission / reception device such as the terminal or the position information providing server 2 can be replaced or switched to a dedicated one according to the change of the communication mode.

With the above configuration, the terminal 1 acquires the current position information by the GPS receiving device 1B, further acquires the information input by the user by the state input button 1C, and sends the information to the position information providing server 2 by the wireless communication device 1D. Can be collected. Conversely, information acquired by the location information providing server 2 through another terminal or another system 3A, 3B can be delivered to the terminal 1. Since the collection and distribution of such information is performed using general-formatted information, other systems 3
The location information acquired by A and 3B can be used and information can be distributed to terminal 1. Further, the location information providing server 2 can centrally manage the information acquired by the server and the location information acquired by each terminal.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a case where the position information providing system is applied to a failure repair business. The position information and the state of the worker are utilized for the purpose of failure repair support.

Location acquisition unit 1 corresponding to the terminal in FIG.
Numeral 0 denotes a general-purpose personal computer to which a GPS receiver is externally connected. In addition, a wireless communication function such as a mobile phone or wireless packet communication is connected. The unit 10 is carried by a worker who performs a repair work outdoors or is mounted on a work vehicle, and the worker appropriately registers the work state in the unit 10. GP by software installed in unit 10
The position information is acquired from the S receiving device.

The software installed in the unit 10 informs the position information providing server 20 of the position and state of the worker.
It is transmitted as appropriate via communication means. The transmission format is a general format XML (extensible).
Markup Language).

In the position information server 20, the position information and the state of the worker are registered and managed in a database. The location information server 20 provides location information to another system (failure repair system) 30 on a Web server and in a general format XML format.

The provision of the position information in the position information server 20 is provided with a processing function for each information shown in FIG. 5, such as a search from an operator name.

Further, the position information server 20 provides a definition of a connection interface for providing information in order to automate data communication. The other system (failure repair system) 30 can easily realize automation of data communication by referring to the connection interface.

The other system (failure repair system) 30
Arrange repairs based on the worker's position information and status information. The trouble repair arrangement information is transferred to the position information server in an XML format, and is distributed from the position information server to the terminal of the designated worker.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram in the case where the location information providing system is applied to a personal location information providing service. A general individual owns a terminal, and provides personal location information and additional information to another business. Other businesses can provide appropriate services to individuals based on this information.

A mobile phone (or dedicated terminal) 40 corresponding to the terminal shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with a Java software execution environment and a GPS receiver. The mobile phone 40 is a GPS
The position information is acquired from the receiving device and transferred to the position information server 50. The software is provided as a Java application and mounted on the mobile phone 40, and the terminal application can be upgraded as appropriate.

The user of the mobile phone 40 can appropriately register his / her own state and personal information. Further, the user position information and the personal information are appropriately transmitted to the position information providing server 50 via a communication device by software. This transmission format is performed in XML which is a general format. The location information server 50 registers and manages the location information and additional information of the user in a database.

The provision of the position information from the position information server to the other system (content provider or the like) 60 is performed by a Web server, and is performed in an XML format which is a general-purpose format.

The provision of the position information by the position information server 50 enables a search from a specific range of the user's personal information or position. In addition, the location information server provides a definition of a connection interface for providing information in order to automate data communication.

Other system (content provider etc.) 60
Can easily realize automation of data communication by referring to the connection interface. Further, the other system (content provider or the like) 60 selects appropriate information for the user based on the position information and the state information of the worker. Further, the other system (content provider or the like) 60 transmits the selected information to the location information server by using XM.
The data is transferred in the L format and distributed from the location information server to the terminal of the designated user.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration in a case where the location information providing system uses a personal location information providing service, particularly data of a mobile phone carrier, wherein a mobile phone carrier and a company corresponding thereto use personal location information. This is a system for providing personal location information and status to other businesses by collecting and managing the status and status, if provided.

The mobile phone companies 70A and 70B provide the collected personal location information in a specific format.

The location information providing server 80 acquires necessary personal location information and additional information according to a format specified by the mobile phone company. At this time, there may be a plurality of mobile phone companies and the like, and in that case, the location information server collects information in a format designated by each business operator. Further, the location information server 80 registers and manages the collected location information and state information in the database as individual information of the user.

The provision of the position information from the position information server 80 to the other systems (content providers, etc.) 90 is performed by a Web server, and is performed in an XML format which is a general format.

In providing position information by the position information server 80, a search can be performed from a specific range of the user's personal information or position. In addition, the location information server provides a definition of a connection interface for providing information in order to automate data communication.

Other System (Content Provider, etc.) 90
Can easily realize automation of data communication by referring to the connection interface. Further, the other system (a content provider or the like) 90 selects appropriate information for the user based on the position information and the additional information of the user. Further, the other system (a content provider or the like) 90 transmits the selected information to the location information server in an XM format.
Transfer in L format.

The distribution information is transferred from the location information server 80 to the mobile phone companies 70A and 70B to which the designated user belongs, so that the information is distributed to the user's terminal.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the location information and additional information of any terminal are collected and distributed at the center,
It can be distributed to any other terminals and other systems,
Advanced use of location information and the like can be realized.

Further, it is possible to provide information suitable for the location to the terminal user, and it is possible to provide efficient use of location information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a position information providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram in the case where the present invention is applied to failure repair work.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram when the present invention is applied to a personal location information providing service.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram in a case where the present invention is applied to a personal information providing service of a system using data of a mobile phone carrier.

FIG. 5 is an information processing function diagram of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 10, 40 ... terminal 2, 20, 50, 80 ... location information providing server 3A, 3B, 30, 60, 90 ... other systems

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A location information providing system for collecting and distributing location information between a terminal and a location information providing server or between another terminal and another system, wherein the terminal is connected to the location information providing server. Communication means capable of transmitting and receiving location information formatted in a general-purpose format;
GPS receiving means capable of receiving radio waves from one or more geostationary satellites, and position information obtaining means for obtaining current position information from three signals received by the GPS receiving means and transmitting the current position information to the position information providing server through the communication means The position information providing server comprises: first communication means capable of transmitting and receiving general-formatted position information to and from the terminal; information storage means capable of storing the terminal-specific position information; and the other system. A second communication unit capable of transmitting and receiving general-purpose formatted position information between the first and second communication units; and a position information received by the first communication unit or a position information received by the second communication unit. Location information management means that can be distributed to the terminal or another terminal or another system through the communication means of Communication means capable of transmitting and receiving general-formatted position information to and from the system, and means for distributing the position information acquired in the system to the position information providing server through the communication means and distributing the terminal information to the terminal through the server. A position information providing system characterized by the following. 2. The terminal according to claim 1, further comprising an additional information input unit for inputting additional information, a terminal capable of acquiring the additional information by the position information acquiring unit, and transmitting the acquired additional information to the position information providing server. The server comprises means for storing the additional information transmitted from the terminal in the information storage means and distributing the additional information to the other terminal or the other system, wherein the other system adds the additional information to the position information and 2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for delivering to an information providing server and delivering to said terminal through said server.
Location information providing system described in.